Torn between two schools

[Chemboy23]

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Ok, so I was accepted to Loma Linda on Dec. 3rd. I was so thankful for just this one acceptance. Today I got a call from my home state school (Mississippi) and they invited me for an interview on January 13th.

I talked to the lady in admissions at LLUSD and she said she has yet to send out my acceptance letter (in my mind, I'm thinking more time to hear back from MS). I know that by far, Loma Linda is the best dental school of the two. But I have my whole family in MS (my wife's parents are in Cali).

The main factor I keep considering is tuition:

My total student debt:

Loma Linda: $350,000
Mississippi: $145,000

I know Loma Linda probably doesn't refund the $1,000 deposit that must be turned in 30 days from receiving your acceptance letter...so what should I do? I hate to take chances on MS coming through and get declined and let my Loma Linda seat fly out the window.

I guess I can hope for MS to get back to us very quick and send in my deposit to Loma Linda last minute if they take a long time responding. That 350k in debt scares the crap out of me...especially considering the fact that I'm planning to practice in MS.

Ahhh....I don't know what to do! Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

 

[yappy]

$205,000> $1000, therefore I would put my deposite on LLU ASAP and plan to attend the interview and hope for an acceptance at the state school. If it comes I would go to the school with the lowest tuition. If it doesnt you get to go to a great DS.

GL with your decision.

 

[DrSteven]

You might want to take into consideration your future goals as a Dentist as well. Do you plan to specialize and if so are you willing to move for that? Where would you prefer to live long term? If you plan on staying in MS forever I would say to stay there. The debt is crazy for pretty much everyone, and every dentist/specialist that I know and have worked with has paid there's off. Granted, it is more now than it was back then, but it is still doable once you open up your own practice and such.

 

[321931]

Ok, so I was accepted to Loma Linda on Dec. 3rd. I was so thankful for just this one acceptance. Today I got a call from my home state school (Mississippi) and they invited me for an interview on January 13th.

I talked to the lady in admissions at LLUSD and she said she has yet to send out my acceptance letter (in my mind, I'm thinking more time to hear back from MS). I know that by far, Loma Linda is the best dental school of the two. But I have my whole family in MS (my wife's parents are in Cali).

The main factor I keep considering is tuition:

My total student debt:

Loma Linda: $350,000
Mississippi: $145,000

I know Loma Linda probably doesn't refund the $1,000 deposit that must be turned in 30 days from receiving your acceptance letter...so what should I do? I hate to take chances on MS coming through and get declined and let my Loma Linda seat fly out the window.

I guess I can hope for MS to get back to us very quick and send in my deposit to Loma Linda last minute if they take a long time responding. That 350k in debt scares the crap out of me...especially considering the fact that I'm planning to practice in MS.

Ahhh....I don't know what to do! Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

Price>everything else.

You become a competent dentist at any school since they are ALL accredited. Sure some schools have "better" this and that, but if you put out any meaningful effort at any accredited dental school, you will become a great dentist.

If it were a difference of 10-20k...then I would say choose what "you" like, but 200k difference is ridiculous.

 

[Chemboy23]

Thanks guys...those were sort of along the lines I was thinking

Rainee - I know right? That's a CRAZY gap in tuition difference.

I think I will just deposit LLU ASAP though (as yappy suggested) and hope for the best with MS.

It would suck to chunk that much money in the trash, but at the same time it would suck even worse to not get in anywhere LOL!!!

 

[incredible777]

$200,000 is a lotttttttttttttt of money... + interest? phew...

 

[Chemboy23]

$200,000 is a lotttttttttttttt of money... + interest? phew...

I know right?!!! I loved Loma Linda when I was there and I loved the people. I just don't know if I love them THAT much LOL. No, but in all seriousness...

10 year payoff-
LLU - $4,027 per month Total Interest Paid (after 10 yrs) - $134k
MS - $2,013 per month Total Interest Paid (after 10 yrs) - $66k

25 year payoff-
LLU - $2,429 per month Total Interest Paid (after 10 yrs) - $379k
MS - $1,215 per month Total Interest Paid (after 10 yrs) - $189k (still ridiculous)

 

[imjonk]

i'd say hold on the decision until LLU sends the letter. They've been saying they're going to send the letter for almost two weeks now (or maybe that's just me). You have 30 days from then so maybe you'll get that time you need without dropping the deposit.

i had the misfortune of not realizing that the deadline for MCG was Oct 15 and so i wasn't given the difficult choice between LLU and a ridiculously cheap state school.

Best of luck to you.

 

[hoylematt]

There's no question what you should do, and I think you knew the answer before you even made this post.

Put the deposit down on Loma, go the the interview at Mississippi, If you get in then revisit the choice between schools.

Don't even think about comparing until you know your into both schools.

If you get into both, I would say moolah is the biggest factor. There is an insane difference in the price of those two schools. Its a no brainer what the best thing is for your family.

 

[jwillison]

I'll just add my vote as well. Tuition is by far the biggest factor for me hands down. As was mentioned above every school will turn out a competent dentist. $1000 is a relatively small price to pay for the security. If you get into MS go for it! Saving an extra $2000 a month is huge over the life of your loans. Good luck and congratulations by the way, it would be nice to have options.

 

[ajusf16]

Are you sure it is 30 days from when you receive the letter (just asking?) Everything I have read was 30 days from when you were accepted. The $1,000 needs to be paid, it is your only sure acceptance at this time. What if you get a flat on the way to your next interview, fix the flat, someone rear ends you, you get out to switch insurance info, a bird kraps on your suit while out of your car miss the interview and didn't pay LLUSD now you have no school and start again next year and a bill for dry cleaning a suit

 

[wantVCUdental]

Put the deposit down on Loma, go the the interview at Mississippi, If you get in then revisit the choice between schools.

Don't bother comparing until you know your into both schools.

If you get into both, I would say moolah is the biggest factor. There is an insane difference in the price of those two schools. Its a no brainer what the best thing is for your family.

+1

 

[Chemboy23]

Thanks guys...I think Matt is right. I need to send the money in ASAP. And as another person stated, #1,000 is a small price to pay to make SURE I have a seat! Thanks to you all for your advice!

 

[imjonk]

Thanks guys...I think Matt is right. I need to send the money in ASAP. And as another person stated, #1,000 is a small price to pay to make SURE I have a seat! Thanks to you all for your advice!

Just spoke with LL, and yeah, since your 1k will be due before Jan 3, then i'd say pay the 1000 and go to the interview in MS still. Basically concurring with everyone else. Good luck at the MS interview!👍

 

[SoulPower]

Thanks guys...I think Matt is right. I need to send the money in ASAP. And as another person stated, #1,000 is a small price to pay to make SURE I have a seat! Thanks to you all for your advice!

Lol as a side note, I hope your not sending them a thousand pounds.

 

[Chemboy23]

Thanks everyone...since my AADSAS updated Dec. 3rd, I'm going to go ahead and send in the $1,000 deposit just to be on the safe side. (As many of you have suggested)

If Mississippi comes through and offers me an acceptance, great! But, if they should not...I will still have a place to go (a FINE dental school that I absolutely loved)!

I feel very blessed and thankful to have this backup...and thanks again to everyone for the advice!

 

[Chemboy23]

Lol as a side note, I hope your not sending them a thousand pounds.

Sending a $1,000 check tomorrow morning (in DOLLARS LOL!)